Combined file-case and cigar-receptacle



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e E. W. SWISHER 87.- G.. G. GINTBR.

CUMBINED FILE GASB AND IGAR REGEPTAGLE. No. 576,353. Patented Feb. 2,1897.

Mw AMBA! L lthe rear portion of said case.

UNITED 'STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD 1V. SWISHER AND CHARLES G. GINTER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

COMBINED FILE-CASE AND ClGAR-RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,353, dated February 2, 18297. Application led March 19,1896. Serial No. 584,009. (No model.)

To cir/ZZ whom t may concern;

Be itknown thatwe, EDWARD W. SwrsHER and CHARLES G. GINTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Combined File-Case and Cigar-Receptacle, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the improvement of combined letter-files and cigar-boxes; and the objects of our invention are to provide a box or receptacle of such construction and arrangement as to ad mit of the same being einployed as a letter-file case or as a receptacle for cigars and to provide certainV improvements in details of construction, which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects we accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of ourimproved box, showing the same open and as employed as a letter-file box. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the greater portion of .the top removed and the partition in place.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line xof Fig. 2, showing said box with the lids closed thereon. Fig. 4 is a detail View in elevation of one of the file-pins which we employ. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the upper lid, showing therein an enlarged view of the fastening. Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 'yy of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a detail view in perspective of the detachable partition, which we employ in the manner hereinafter described.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 represents the body of the file-box, which has the general form and dimensions of the ordinary letter-file case, and which is formed of wood. Of this box, 2 represents the end pieces, which rise from the bottom 3 thereof, and 4 represents the back piece, which is of equal height with said end pieces. 5 represents the rigid top or cover plate which covers To the forward edge of this top plate 5 is hinged the rear edge of a top lid or cover plate 6, the cover 6 being adapted to close downward on the top of the end pieces 2 and having its forward edge flush with the forward ends of said end pieces and so closed.

7 represents the drop-door,whioh is adapted to close the forward side of the box or receptacle, and which has its lower edge hinged at S to the forward edge of the bottom piece 3. The parts of the box thus formed are of wood and are machine nailed, said box and its hinges being preferably covered by a suitable ornamented paper. 1V ithin the receptacle l are arranged, one upon the other, letter-separating sheets of heavy paper 9. These separating-sheets 9 have passing loosely through perforations formed in their rear portions pins 10, said pins having their upper and lower ends pointed, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and said pointed ends being sprung into correspondinglyfshaped sockets 1l, formed in the under side of thetop plate 5 and in the upper side of the bottom plate 3.

Within an opening in the forward edge portion of the lid 6 is secured a catch-eyelet 12, the latter being tubular in form and being provided with two oppositely located inwardly-projecting lugs 13. ln the outer edge of the drop-door 7 is secured a catch-pin 14, the upper rounded head of which is adapted to extend within the eyelet l2 and be made to engage, as indicated in Fig. 5 of the draw ings, with the upper sides of the lugs 13.

As is usualin this class of file-boxes, letters or other papers are designed to be inserted in alphabetical order between the separatingsheets 9.

It is well known that the dimensions of a letter-file box of this character are such as to renderit of too great a depth to receive snugly cigars or stogies of ordinary sizes between its back plate 4 and the drop-door 7. In order to admit of the use of the box as a receptacle for cigars or stogies, we provide a detachable partition 16, the latter consisting of a plate 17, which is adapted to it loosely between the ends 2 and between the under side of the top plate 5 and upper side of the upper separating-sheet 9. This partition portion 17 is provided with end flanges 18, which extend at right angles therewith and which when said partition is inserted beneath the top plate 5 of the box are adapted to bear against the IOU rear side plate 4. By inserting the partition thus formed into the rearI portion of the receptacle it is evident that the depth of the box from front to rear may beso decreased as to provide in front ot said partition a receptacle of such size as to receive snugly layers of cigars or stogies, the lower layer of the latter resting upon the upper sheet 9. It will also be seen that, in addition to the fact that our detachable partition tends to decrease the size of the receptacle, it serves to inclose the file-pins 10. It is evident that these file-pins may be removed when desired by springing upward the top plate or by springing the bottom plate downward until the pointed end of the pin may be disengaged therefrom.

From the construction which we have described it will be seen that a lc-case of the character shown may be used as a convenient cigar-receptacle without in any manner injurin g the box for use as a iile-case after the cigars have been removed, inasmuch as the partition 17 may be readily detached from the box. A

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a combined letter-file case and cigar receptacle the combination with the case l, a hinged top lid and hinged front side, letterseparating sheets arranged one above the other within said receptacle and pins passing loosely through the rear portions of said sheets, of a partition 16 consisting of a bar 17 and end pieces 1S, said partition being adapted to fit and slide between the ends of said box and between the separating-sheets and the upper side of said box, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

EDVARD XV. SWISHER. CHARLES G. GINTER. In presence of J. W. FISHER, G. C. SHEPHERD. 

